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So, the IPL auctions are underway and I can't believe the amounts being paid! $1.5m for Dhoni, $1.35 for Symonds with Tendulkar, Dravid and Yuvraj also breaking the $1m mark at the auction. Crazy money!

Anyway, below is a link to the cricinfo blog for the auction, I didn't realise just how many world class players had signed up to this.

Its quite interesting seeing the prices that players are going for in the auction. Not surprisingly its the big hitters and top all rounders like Symonds, Kallis, Oram, Gayle and Jayasuria that are going for the big money, along with the big hitting keeper batsmen like Dhoni, Gilchrist and McCullum. Although I am a bit surprised that some of the Aussie players such as Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist & Warne didn't go for more, whilst McGrath appears to have been overlooked at this stage. I guess the fact that some of the current Aussie players may not be available might be a factor, whilst retired bowlers such as Warne and McGrath may not be as desirable for T20's despite their big name reputations. I imagine some of the England players would also be feeling a bit disgruntled at being unable to participate, surely players like Pietersen, Collingwood and Flintoff would have attracted big money if they were available.

Also interesting looking at the teams put together so far, they all look to be pretty impressive in terms of talent. Although it must be quite wierd for the players to be thrown together with different opposition players, you have to wonder if they will all get along or whether there maybe a few rifts. Thankfully Symonds and Harbhajan have been selected in different teams.

I was always last one picked in teams for sport. I can just see a weeping Adam Gilchrist now saying, 'They paid 1.5 million for Dhoni. Sob. I wasn't even worth half that. They don't like me as much as him. Sob.'

And Roy comforting him by patting his shoulder and secretly smiling as they paid more for him than Gilly.'

I imagine some of the England players would also be feeling a bit disgruntled at being unable to participate, surely players like Pietersen, Collingwood and Flintoff would have attracted big money if they were available.

Flintoff says he's not interested, says that Lancs and the ECB have always been good to me. Maybe they get him fast tracked through the A&E department or something.

__________________"Only the dead have seen the end of war" - Plato

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Eisenhower

I was always last one picked in teams for sport. I can just see a weeping Adam Gilchrist now saying, 'They paid 1.5 million for Dhoni. Sob. I wasn't even worth half that. They don't like me as much as him. Sob.'

And Roy comforting him by patting his shoulder and secretly smiling as they paid more for him than Gilly.'

If I was the one who went for the least cash I'd be inconsolable!

Even if the lowest paid only got £250,000? (The figure's just a guess btw). What I mean is, even the lowest paid would still be getting huge amount, and that should stop them being inconsolable. Or you if it were you.

__________________"Only the dead have seen the end of war" - Plato

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Eisenhower

Even if the lowest paid only got £250,000? (The figure's just a guess btw). What I mean is, even the lowest paid would still be getting huge amount, and that should stop them being inconsolable. Or you if it were you.

Ah, but I'm not talking about the cash. I'd feel I was the least unpopular. the cash may soften the blow but I'd still wonder why I was the least wanted. Just like at school. When you're the only one left so they HAVE to pick you for the team amid much raising of eyebrows and sighing.

I bet ya some of them will secretly think that and their ego's will be hurt.

Ah, but I'm not talking about the cash. I'd feel I was the least unpopular. the cash may soften the blow but I'd still wonder why I was the least wanted. Just like at school. When you're the only one left so they HAVE to pick you for the team amid much raising of eyebrows and sighing.

I bet ya some of them will secretly think that and their ego's will be hurt.

Poor Gilly, not as liked as the other boys.

It must be a bit embarrassing for the players that get left unsold or are sold for a lot less than their team-mates. I'm sure it would be a bit of a blow to the ego for players like Ponting, Hayden and Gilchrist to go for a lot less than Symonds. You can only imagine it would make the Aussie changeroom a bit fractious, and likewise other countries who have a number of players involved. As much as there is great financial rewards in playing in the IPL, their also appears a price to pay in terms of players egos being dented and national team harmony being disrupted.

A lot of fringe Indian players such as Chawla, Uthappa & Tiwary are going for more than established Aus, SA, NZ and SL players. I guess the Indian franchises want to see their own players involved, no matter how big they are internationally. Understandable though, as much as Indian fans want to see the big overseas names playing for their teams, I'm sure they want a few local players amongst them as well.

The big money for small cricket offered by the Indian Premier League has not enticed every international cricketer to sign up. As the eight IPL franchises enter the biggest player auction ever held in Mumbai today, England opener Alastair Cook is adamant that playing for his country means far more than a hefty bank balance.

"We get very well looked after as England players," Cook said in Napier. "When I was 10 years old I didn't dream about playing in an Indian Twenty20 league, I dreamed about playing for England, and I'm very happy with what I'm doing."

"It's not been an issue for England players," he said. "Nothing is bigger than wearing the Three Lions and playing for your country and I can't see anyone giving up playing for England to go and do that."

Alastair Cook can't get into England's Twenty20 side, why would the IPL want him? Same goes for most of the other England players as well.

Hmmm, have to wonder whether Symonds' apparent distaste of touring Pakistan is not called into question when he can command that kind of sum to play in the IPL. Why would a player risk denting his reputation as a test match player when such a hot commodity for the IPL?